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When Gav and Jori Daragon set off to map the uncharted regions of hyperspace, they knew they were risking their lives. But they thought it would be an unsuspected cluster of debris that would take them out of the game, not their successful discovery of a series of hyperspace "short cuts." The Sith Empire wants to know where these routes are — wants to hold the only map to these routes — so that it can maintain an iron grip on the galaxy. And the lives of a couple of explorers mean very little to these masters of the dark side of the Force.

On Ziost, the Sith Lords debate over what to do with their new prisoners, Gav and Jori Daragon. Naga Sadow argues that they can be used to expand the Sith Empire, but Ludo Kressh believes they should be executed. In the end, Simus goes to Gav and Jori's cold, underground prison and informs them that they are to be killed.

Naga Sadow does not give up so easily, however. He sends one of his Massassi to retrieve a Republicblaster from the Starbreaker 12, which is then used in an attack on the Ziost prison; an attack carried out by Sadow and his Massassi, brutally killing all of the guards and Simus in the process. Sadow frees Gav and Jori and sends them to his fortress on Khar Shian, leaving the blaster behind to disguise all of it as an attack from the Republic.

Sadow heads back to the Sith Council, and demands to be crowned Dark Lord, so he can defend the Empire from this threat. Much to the chagrin of Ludo Kressh, the Sith Lords agree, and Sadow is named the new Dark Lord of the Sith.